BOWMANVILLE — Mark Smigielski wheels his 13-year-old son, Ryan, into the living room of the family’s Bowmanville home. The boy’s eyes sparkle and he smiles in response to a greeting. But that is about as much as the Grade 8 student from Holy Family C.E.S. can manage.

Ryan was not always confined to a wheelchair.

“He was born perfectly healthy,” says his mom, Kelly. But on the morning of April 18, 2008, Ryan’s life — and the life of the whole Smigielski family — changed forever.

Ryan’s parents, Kelly and Mark, described how Ryan’s blood sugars plummeted overnight and they found him in a coma with severe brain damage. He spent three weeks at Sick Kids Hospital in the ICU on a ventilator, and doctors were skeptical Ryan would survive.

“Finally we noticed some changes, he opened his eyes,” said Kelly. “But there was no recognition, and he was not making any type of connection to anyone.”

But when Ryan smiled after his six-year-old sister jumped onto his hospital bed and hugged him, his parents knew their little boy was still there.

“We just need to work at pulling him out.”

The brain injury damaged Ryan’s ability to speak and left him with quadriplegic dystonia. He lost control of all his muscle groups and was not able to do anything independently, said Ryan’s dad, Mark, who described dystonia as similar to muscle spasms.

He was referred to Campbell Children’s School (CCS) located inside Grandview Children’s Centre (GCC), Oshawa.

“Both Mark and I grew up within five kilometres of the building, but had no idea what went on there,” said Kelly.

CCS is one of six special schools in Ontario, and serves students from JK to Grade 1 with communication and/or multiple disabilities in specialized programs. Kelly said the main goal at CCS is to get the child back to their home school.

The wheelchair arrived and the GCC therapists ensured it was modified for Ryan’s needs.

Ryan was fortunate to stay at CSS for three years.

They said it was a joint effort between the staff and their son. Ryan worked with physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. He mastered equipment, walkers and speech devices from low-tech picture choices to recommended advanced devices like the ‘Eyegaze’ computer he uses now.

“It really was because of him (Ryan) and the therapists who were really working together,” said Mark. “It’s a really co-ordinated effort to get all of that done, and we did see some progress.”

After leaving CCS, Ryan received blocks of therapy from GCC, whose staff attended his home and suggested options for specialized equipment, such as an elevator, bathing needs and ceiling tracking systems in the living room and his bedroom.

His parents praised GCC staff, especially physiotherapist Marj Kennelly, who worked from him since his first days at CSS.

“She’s a rock star,” said Mark. “She got to know him, and the things she did with him over the years helped him out a lot.” The therapist helped the family rig up a canoe seat and special life-jacket for Ryan so he could join his family’s activities on summer camping trips. The family upgraded their tent-trailer to a travel-trailer, which could accommodate Ryan’s wheelchair. They love the challenge of bumping him in his wheelchair over the roots and rocks on trails in the provincial parks.

BOWMANVILLE — Ryan Smigielski’s sister Jillan and parents Mark and Kelly are with the teen in his room. Ryan suddenly went into a coma when he was four years old when his blood sugars dropped suddenly. Brain damage caused him to lose all movement of his limbs and speech. April 18, 2017 – Jason Liebregts / MetrolandBOWMANVILLE — Ryan Smigielski’s sister Jillan and parents Mark and Kelly are with the teen in his room. Ryan suddenly went into a coma when he was four years old when his blood sugars dropped suddenly. Brain damage caused him to lose all movement of his limbs and speech. April 18, 2017 – Jason Liebregts / Metroland

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. – Ryan Smigielski with his sister Jillian and parents, Mark and Kelly share family time in Ryan’s bedroom.

Ryan is now on the adolescent caseload, run out of the Abilities Centre, which means the family use them to help problem-solve his needs. GCC recently helped him out with a new seating system for his wheelchair, and attended meetings with the local school board to help Ryan’s transition to high school in September.

By now, Ryan’s sparkling eyes are closed as he dozes in his wheelchair.

“We’re fortunate to have a place like Grandview in our area,” said Kelly. “We may not get a lot of services now from them, but when we really, really needed them they were there, and I know if I really need them, they’ll be there again.”

Erin O’Toole, MP for Durham and Conservative leadership candidate (Right), talks with Bob Prentice at the town hall meeting at The Venue, Peterborough.

Premier Kathleen Wynne speaks to DC Early Childhood Education students at DC during her tour of post secondary colleges.

Ron Lambert stands in front of his exhibit,Tribute 2016, which he painted to celebrate the summer of ’47 with his friends in Provincetown, Mass. Photo by Barbara Howe

Joanne Shaw play guitar at Simcoe Blues and Jazz in Oshawa. Photo by Barbara Howe.

Mackenzie Bailey and David Feenstra at the FIRST Lego League provincial championships at Durham College. Photo by Barbara Howe

Beth Hawkins from Oshawa concentrates on her painting skills at the Paint and Palate evening at Bistro 67.

Three-year-old Bennett Fraser from Whitby enjoys his bread roll between mouthfuls of soup at the Feed the Need in Durham Empty Bowls event. Photo by Barbara Howe

Former Chief Justice,Ian Binnie at UOIT. Photo by Barbara Howe

Twins Maryam and Nivaal Rehman Grade 10 students from Sinclair High School, Whitby attended WE Day while shooting video for their YouTube channel “The Worrld With MNR.”
Photo by Barbara Howe

BROOKLIN, Ont. (22/11/2015) – Fr. Charles attending to some of the administative duties. This includes a fundraising campaigne for the parish and the diocese. Photo by Barbara Howe, Durham College, Oshawa

Places

Manchester Flower stall. Photo by Barbara howe

A view of the bridge at Mostar, Bosnia. Photo by Barbara Howe

Rushing water. Photo by Barbara Howe

Icelandic beach. Photo by Barbara Howe

Winter mailbox. Photo by Barbara Howe

Photo by Barbara Howe

View of Reykjavik, Iceland. Photo by Barbara Howe

Winter driveway. Photo by Barbara Howe

Yorkshire doorway. Photo by Barbara Howe

Oshawa Courthouse. Photo by Barbara Howe

Manchester town hall. Photo by Barbara Howe

BROOKLIN, Ont. (20/11/2015) – Fr. Charles Forget is the parish priest at the church of St. Leo the Great on Watford Strret. Photo by Barbara Howe, Durham College, Oshawa